Open ProvincesNew Brunswick Social Assistance: rates, rules and how to apply
Transitional Assistance and Extended Benefits: the April 2026 rates, the Household Supplement, earnings and assets.
Figures as of April 1, 2026 regulation; rules January 2025
What Social Assistance is
New Brunswick's social assistance has two main streams. Transitional Assistance is for people expected to work or train and is meant to be temporary. Extended Benefits is for people with a long-term disability or other lasting barrier, with higher amounts and higher asset limits. Rates are set by regulation and rise every April 1 with New Brunswick's consumer price index.
How much you get
| Household (from April 1, 2026) | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Transitional Assistance: single employable person | $687 |
| Transitional Assistance: single designated person | $737 |
| Transitional Assistance: two persons, at least one under 19 | $1,076 |
| Transitional Assistance: two adults | $1,097 |
| Transitional Assistance: three persons (add $73 for each additional person) | $1,139 |
| Extended Benefits: one person | $955 |
| Extended Benefits: two persons, at least one under 19 | $1,290 |
| Extended Benefits: two adults | $1,314 |
| Extended Benefits: three persons (add $78 for each additional person) | $1,357 |
- A Household Supplement of $200 a month is added automatically for households in both programs (not for people experiencing homelessness). It is not indexed to inflation, nor is the Income Supplement Benefit for families with children.
- These maximums come from Schedule A of the Family Income Security Act regulation filed on March 31, 2026 (in force April 1, 2026).
The whole picture: yearly income of typical households in 2025
| Household | Total yearly income from welfare and related benefits (2025) |
|---|---|
| Single adult considered employable | $11,312 |
| Single adult with a disability | $14,480 |
| Single parent, 1 child | $26,183 |
| Couple, 2 children | $34,131 |
Who qualifies and what you may keep
You must live in New Brunswick and be in financial need. For Extended Benefits you need to be in a category such as long-term disability, and a medical report supports the application. A household's CPP and QPP income is partly exempt for recipients.
| Household | Liquid asset limit (January 2025) |
|---|---|
| Single adult | $1,000 |
| Single adult with a disability | $10,000 (Extended Benefits, blind, deaf or disabled) |
| Single parent, 1 child | $2,000 |
| Couple, 2 children | $2,000 |
What happens when you work
- Applicants get no exemption: income reduces the benefit dollar for dollar.
- Recipients: the first $500 of net monthly earnings per household is fully exempt, and 50% of the rest is exempt (the benefit falls by 50 cents per extra dollar).
Worked example
A single employable recipient earns $800 net in a month. Exempt: $650. Counted against the benefit: $150. Benefit: $887 − $150 = $737. Total with earnings: $1,537. The maximum used is the $687 rate plus the $200 Household Supplement.
How to apply
Apply through the Department of Social Development, by phone or at a regional office. Report any change right away. If you disagree with a decision, you have the right to request a review and an appeal.
The April 2026 rates come from the regulation itself; the earnings and asset rules and the 2025 totals come from Maytree. Your own amount is set by Social Development.
Always confirm your own amount with the program: this guide explains the rules, it does not replace an official decision.